Enrique Peña Nieto: “Mexico will not pay for any wall”
Rights — di Redazione
The Mexican president's response to the executive orders signed by Donald Trump for the construction of the wall along the border with the United States.
Enrique Peña Nieto: “Mexico will not pay for any wall”
The Mexican president's response to the executive orders signed by Donald Trump for the construction of the wall along the border with the United States.
"Good evening. Today the President of the United States signed two executive orders related to our country. One to implement measures on immigration and the other to expand the wall at the border. In response, I have instructed the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (Luis Videgaray Caso, ed.) to strengthen the protection measures for our fellow citizens. The 50 Mexican consulates in the United States will become defenders of migrants' rights. Our communities are not alone. The Mexican government will provide them with legal counsel to ensure the protection they need. I call on legislators and civil society organisations to join efforts in supporting them. Wherever there is a Mexican migrant in danger who needs our help, that is where we must be, that is where their country must be. I am saddened by and disapprove of the United States' decision to continue the construction of a wall that, for so many years now, rather than uniting us, has divided us.
México ofrece y exige respeto, como la Nación plenamente soberana que somos.
Mexico does not believe in walls. And as I have said many times before, Mexico will not pay for any wall. These executive orders come at a time when our country is beginning talks to negotiate the new rules of cooperation, trade, investment, security and immigration in the North American region. This negotiation is of great importance for the strength, certainty and future of our economy and our society. As President of the Republic, I take full responsibility for defending and looking after the interests of Mexico and Mexicans. It is my duty to face the problems and challenges that are placed before us. On the basis of the final report from the Mexican officials who are in Washington at this moment, and after consulting the representation of the Senate and the national conference of governors, I will have to make decisions on the next steps to be taken. Mexico offers and demands respect, as the sovereign nation that it is. Mexico reaffirms its friendship with the people of the United States and its willingness to reach agreements with its government. Agreements that are in favour of Mexico and Mexicans. Thank you."
Translated by Camilla Soldati